US10251425B2

US10251425B2 - Vaporizing device with power component

Info

Publication number: US10251425B2
Application number: US15/203,334
Authority: US
Inventors: David SCHULER; Ryan Miller; William E. Allenfort; Jonathon Davenport; Mark Scatterday
Original assignee: Njoy LLC
Current assignee: Njoy LLC
Priority date: 2015-07-06
Filing date: 2016-07-06
Publication date: 2019-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-06
Also published as: US20180192698A9; US20170367406A1

Abstract

A vaporizing device generally having a tank, power component, battery, and shroud is disclosed. The power component may include a frame defining a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, such that a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is in position. The battery may be coupled to the frame of the power component. The shroud may be configured to be positioned around the battery and coupled to the frame. The battery may be activated when the shroud is compressed radially inward. The device may include a port for connection to an external power supply for recharging the battery. The device may be portable with a generally compact configuration in order to allow a user to comfortably hold the device in the palm of the hand.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/189,032, titled VAPORIZING DEVICE WITH POWER COMPONENT, filed on Jul. 6, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/189,085, titled VAPORIZING DEVICE WITH POWER COMPONENT, filed on Jul. 6, 2015.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to vaporizing devices and components thereof, e.g., batteries and tanks for containing e-liquid for vaporization and, more particularly, to a vaporizing device that may be portable with a generally compact configuration, e.g., to allow a user to comfortably hold the device in the palm of the hand.

BACKGROUND

Many current vaporizing devices have a wand- or pen-like shape. Often these devices are intended to be carried in a case, which may be bulky and too big to carry in a pocket. Or the device itself may be too bulky to be conveniently carried. In addition, some devices must be taken apart for transport between uses, e.g., in a cigarette case.

The present application addresses these problems encountered in prior art vaporizing devices and provides other, related advantages.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, a vaporizing device is disclosed. The vaporizing device comprises, in combination: a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth; and a power component comprising: a frame, wherein a portion of the frame defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position; a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and coupled to the frame; wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present application, a vaporizing device is disclosed. The vaporizing device comprises, in combination: a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth; and a power component comprising: a frame, wherein a portion of the frame having a tapered surface defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, wherein a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank; an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be connected to the tank; a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and coupled to the frame; wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present application, a vaporizing device is disclosed. The vaporizing device comprises, in combination: a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth; and a power component having a generally ergonomic shape configured to fit in a palm of the user's hand comprising: a frame, wherein an upper portion of the frame having a tapered surface defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, wherein a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank, and wherein a portion of the tank from the mouthpiece to a lower area of the tank is visible when the tank is disposed in the slot; an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be connected to the tank; a base portion having a charging port; a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and removably coupled to the frame; wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the application are set forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures can be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The application itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vaporizing device, consistent with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 depicts a vaporizing device, consistent with an embodiment of the present application, being held in a palm of a user;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate various views of a vaporizing device, consistent with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a power component of the vaporizing device of FIGS. 3A and 3B, consistent with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the power component of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the power component of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate various views of a vaporizing device and exemplary dimensions of a power component thereof, consistent with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the vaporizing device of FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the vaporizing device of FIGS. 3A and 3B, illustrating a micro-USB cable connected thereto, consistent with an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a prior art vape pen;

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the vaporizing device of FIGS. 3A and 3B;

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the power component of FIG. 4, with a shroud thereof removed; and

FIG. 12 illustrates a plurality of vaporizing devices, consistent with embodiments of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a vaporizing device 10 is shown, consistent with an embodiment of the present application. Devices according to the present application may include a tank 30 and a power component 50, e.g., battery component. The tank 30 may be configured to fit within a slot 54 of the power component 50 such that at least a portion of the tank 30 is adjacent to the power component 50 (see, e.g., FIG. 1). The power component 50 may have a generally ergonomic shape for fitting in the palm of a user's hand (see, e.g., FIG. 2). The vaporizing device 10 may have dimensions that allow a user to carry the device in a pocket of a piece of clothing.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4-6 show different views of an exemplary vaporizing device 20 according to the present disclosure, which may be substantially similar to the vaporizing devices 10 shown FIGS. 1 and/or 2. As shown, the tank 30 may fit into a slot 54 of the power component 50 in an upright position. The dimensions and shape of the slot 54 may generally correspond to the dimensions of the tank 30, e.g., both the slot 54 and the tank 30 may be generally cylindrical in shape. When the tank 30 is secured in the slot 54, the power component 50 may provide power to an atomizer of the tank 30 to generate vapor. The mouthpiece 32 of the tank 30 may extend above the top surface 58 of the power component 50 for access by a user. While FIGS. 1 and 3A-3B each show the portion of the tank 30 within the respective slots 54 as entirely surrounded, in some embodiments the slot 54 of the power component 50 may only partially surround the tank 30, e.g., wherein the slot 54 has an opening along the side, such as a slit extending along the entire length or part of the length of the slot 54. At least a portion of the tank 30 may be at least partially or completely transparent to allow the user to view the liquid contents therein. In some embodiments, the slot 54 may be configured to allow a user to monitor the level of liquid in the tank 30. For example, the portion of the frame 52 that defines the top of the slot 54 may have a curved or tapered surface 56, such that the top of the slot 54 may be tapered to expose all or a portion of the length of the tank 30 (e.g., exposing all or a portion of a reservoir inside the tank, wherein the reservoir contains the liquid to be vaporized). In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a portion of the tank 30 from the mouthpiece 32 to a middle or lower area 36 of the tank 30 may be visible when the tank 30 is disposed in the slot 54. The portion of the frame 52 that defines the slot 54 additionally or alternatively may be at least partially or completely transparent so that all or most of the tank 30 can be viewed. The tank 30 may be secured to (e.g., locked into) and electrically connected to the power component 50 by any suitable connection(s). For example, the power component 50 may include threads complementary to threads of the tank 30 for connecting the tank 30 to a battery or other power source within the power component 50. In some embodiments, the tank 30 may include a 510 threaded portion, a CE-4 type of threaded connection, or a CE-5 type of threaded connection, and the power component may include complementary threaded portions or types of threaded portions.

In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the tank 30 may include a threaded portion that screws into the slot 54 of the power component 50. For example, the slot 54 of the power component 50 may have a closed bottom to limit displacement of the tank 30 in the slot 54. The wall 62 at the closed bottom of the slot 54 may include an electrical connector 64 to couple with a connector of the tank 30, e.g., for supplying power from the battery to the tank 30 (e.g., to the atomizer of the tank). FIG. 4 shows a top view of the power component of FIGS. 3A and 3B, wherein the bottom wall 62 of the slot includes a standard 510 threaded connector 64 for receiving a tank 30 with a complementary 510 threaded portion. In other embodiments, a side of the tank 30 may have threads complementary to threads in an adjacent surface of the power component 50. For example, the power component 50 may have a threaded portion along a side surface thereof.

Tanks suitable for the present disclosure include prefilled tanks and refillable tanks. Exemplary tanks may be about 13 mm or about 14 mm in diameter. In some embodiments, the

vaporizer device

10 or 20 may include an adapter fixedly or detachably coupled to a surface of the slot 54 for connecting the tank 30 to the power component 50.

The power component 50 may include a battery 76 (as shown, for example, in FIG. 6), e.g., a rechargeable battery. In some embodiments, for example, the power component 50 may include a lithium-ion battery, e.g., a 1100 mAh or 2200 mAh Li-ion battery. FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the power component 50 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, including a frame 52, a battery/battery cell 76 (hereinafter battery 76), and a cover or shroud 78 (hereinafter shroud 78). The battery 76 may be removable or non-removable. For example, the battery 76 may be fixedly attached to the frame 52 such that the battery 76 may not be removed from the power component 50. In some embodiments, the frame 52 may completely surround the battery 76, e.g., such that a user may not be able to access the battery 76. The frame 52 may contain various electronic components of the device, such as e.g., microprocessors, LEDs, sensors, etc. The shroud 78 also may be removable or non-removable. For example, the shroud 78 may be fixedly attached to the battery 76 and/or frame 52. In some embodiments, the shroud 78 may be removable, e.g., allowing a user to exchange shrouds 78 of different colors or designs (see, e.g., FIG. 12 and discussion below).

In some embodiments, the battery 76 may provide a voltage ranging from about 1.5 V to about 5.0 V, such as about 3.7 V. In some embodiments, the battery 76 may have a 3.7 V output that may be increased to 4.2 V, e.g., with a booster circuit, providing 13.6 W. The

vaporizer device

10 or 20 may be configured to power an atomizer in the tank 30 down to about 1.0Ω.

The power component 50 may include a power button, e.g., for activating the battery. For example, the frame 52 may include a power button operably coupled to the battery 76, such that pressing the power button causes the battery 76 to supply voltage for vaporizing liquid in the tank 30, e.g., via a heating element in an atomizer of the tank 30. Additionally or alternatively, the power component 50 may be configured such that pressing one or more portions of the shroud 78 radially inward activates the battery 76 (e.g., similar to clicking a computer mouse). Thus, for example, a user may squeeze one or both sides of the shroud 78 while holding the vaporizing

device

10 or 20 in his/her hand in order to generate vapor.

In some embodiments, the power component 50 may include a port 80 for connection to an external power supply for recharging the battery 76. For example, the power component 50 may include a USB or micro-USB charging port 80, e.g., as shown in FIG. 5. The port 80 may have any suitable location along the power component 50, such as, e.g., the bottom surface 68, the top surface 58, the side surface (opposite the slot 54 for receiving the tank 30), the front surface, or the back surface. FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the power component 50 of FIGS. 3A and 3B, wherein a base portion 66 of the power component 50, below the slot 54 for the tank 30, includes a micro-USB connector 82. A micro-USB cable 84 may be connected to the connector 82, as shown in FIG. 9. The power component 50 may include multiple charging ports 80. Vaporizing

devices

10 or 20 according to the present disclosure may be configured to stably sit on a desktop or other generally flat surface.

In some embodiments, the power component 50 may include one or more LEDs, e.g., as indicator lights. When the battery power is at or above a threshold level, the LED(s) may be one color (e.g., white), and when the battery power drops below the threshold, the LED(s) may change to a different color (e.g., red). The LEDs may be lit when the vaporizing

device

10 or 20 is activated or may only be lit when the power component 50 is connected to a power supply (e.g., via a USB or micro-USB cord). Additionally or alternatively, the LEDs may be configured to flash. For example, the LEDs may briefly or continuously flash when the vaporizing

device

10 or 20 is turned on or off. The base portion 66 of the power component 50 may be at least partially transparent to a user to see light from LEDs within (see, e.g., FIGS. 7C, 7D, 7E and 9).

The power component 50 and/or tank 30 may be made of any suitable materials or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, glass, metal, plastics and other polymers and thermopolymers. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the power component 50 may include a cover or shroud 78, which may be removable/replaceable from the power component 50 (as shown in FIG. 11). For example, the shroud 78 may be configured to snap onto the power component 50 (e.g., snap onto a frame 52 or housing of the power component 50), and may be removed by pulling the shroud 78 away from the power component 50. Any other suitable connections for securing the shroud 78 to the power component 50 may be used. The shroud 78 may allow for the power component 50 to have different colors and/or designs, according to the user's preferences.

FIGS. 7A-7E and 8-12 illustrate additional features and characteristics encompassed by the present disclosure. FIGS. 7A and 7C, for example, shows exemplary dimensions of a power component 50 (75 mm+38 mm+20 mm). The power component 50 may have any other suitable dimensions. Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a comparison of a wand-like vape pen 100 to a vaporizing device 20 of the present disclosure is shown, e.g., illustrating that embodiments of the present disclosure may have relatively more compact dimensions.

The following provides some exemplary features of power components 50 and vaporizing

devices

10 or 20 according to the present disclosure. Power components 50 and vaporizing

devices

10 or 20 according to the present disclosure may include at least one, some, or all of the features listed below. It is understood that additional embodiments and combinations of features are encompassed by the disclosure herein.

EXEMPLARY FEATURES

2,200 mAh Li-ion cell

Compact size, fits in the palm of your hand and is easily pocketable—no more wands

Micro-USB charging port—port is on the side so the unit can be recharged in the upright position

510 threads, accepts PFT and most CE-4 and CE-5 tanks

3.7 V output—could be increased to 4.2 V (with booster circuit) providing 13.6 W when used with a prefilled tank (PFT) (13 TPM)

Capable of powering atomizers down to 1.0Ω

Stable standing on your desktop

Replaceable cover—different colors are available (see, e.g., FIG. 11).

The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vaporizing device comprising, in combination:

a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth, wherein the tank defines a reservoir therein, the reservoir configured to retain a liquid, and wherein at least a part of the tank is transparent to show the liquid; and

a power component comprising:

a frame, wherein a portion of the frame defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, wherein an upper portion of the frame that defines the slot has a tapered surface, such that a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank;

a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and

a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and coupled to the frame;

wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot.

2. The vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the power component further comprises a charging port.

3. The vaporizing device of claim 2, wherein the charging port is positioned on a base portion of the power component.

4. The vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the tank from the mouthpiece to a lower area of the tank is visible when the tank is disposed in the slot.

5. The vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the power component further comprises an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be connected to the tank.

6. The vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the shroud is removably coupled to the frame.

7. The vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the battery is removably attached to the frame.

8. The vaporizing device of claim 1, wherein the power component has a generally ergonomic shape configured to fit in a palm of the user's hand.

9. A vaporizing device comprising, in combination:

a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth, the tank comprising a reservoir configured to retain a liquid; and

a power component comprising:

a frame, wherein a portion of the frame having a tapered surface defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position, wherein a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank;

an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be removably connected to the tank;

a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and

wherein at least a portion of the tank is adjacent to the power component, and the liquid is visible when the tank is positioned in the slot.

10. The vaporizing device of claim 9, wherein the power component further comprises a charging port.

11. The vaporizing device of claim 10, wherein the charging port is positioned on a base portion of the power component.

12. The vaporizing device of claim 9, wherein a portion of the tank from the mouthpiece to a lower area of the tank is visible when the tank is disposed in the slot.

13. The vaporizing device of claim 9, wherein the shroud is removably coupled to the frame.

14. The vaporizing device of claim 9, wherein the battery is removably attached to the frame.

15. The vaporizing device of claim 9, wherein the power component has a generally ergonomic shape configured to fit in a palm of the user's hand.

16. A vaporizing device comprising, in combination:

a tank having a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth; and

a power component configured to fit in a palm of the user's hand comprising:

a frame, wherein an upper portion of the frame having a tapered surface defines a slot configured to receive the tank in an upright position of the frame and the tank, wherein a top of the slot is tapered to expose at least a portion of a length of the tank, and wherein a portion of the tank from the mouthpiece to a lower area of the tank is visible when the tank is disposed in the slot;

an electrical connector positioned in the slot and configured to be connected to the tank;

a base portion having a charging port;

a battery configured to be attached to the frame; and

a shroud configured to be positioned around the battery and removably coupled to the frame;

wherein at least part of the tank is adjacent to the power component when the tank is positioned in the slot;

wherein the charging port is located on a sidewall of the base portion so that the battery may recharge in the upright position; and

wherein the shroud has a U-shaped surface with an apex opposite the sidewall.

17. The vaporizing device of claim 16, wherein the charging port includes a micro-USB connector adapted to receive a micro-USB cable.

18. The vaporizing device of claim 16, wherein the electrical connector is a 510 threaded connector.

19. The vaporizing device of claim 16, wherein the tank contains a reservoir configured to retain a liquid, and part of the tank is transparent to view the liquid when the tank is in the slot.